Mower



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

T. s. BROWN.

MOWER.

No. 357,902. Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

(No Model.) 2 'SheetsSheet 2.

T. s. BROWN.

v MOWER. No. 357,902. Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

WITNESSES: v INVENTOR N4 PCYERS. PlmwL'rmo hr. Wanhin tun, 0.0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. BROYVN, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 357,902, datedFebruary 15, 1887.

Application filed May 17, 1836.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing atPoughkeepsie, in the State of New York, have invented a newand useful Improvementin Mowers, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a partthereof, and of which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a partof a harvester; Fig. 2, an end elevation upon the lines 00 y of Fig. 1;Fig. 3, an enlarged end elevation of part of a machine embodying myinvention; Figs. 4, 5, and 6, perspective details of parts of Fig. 8;and Fig. 7, a top plan view of the hinged joint between the rear braceand the main frame.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts wherever used.

The following is a description .of a machine embodying'my improvements.

Ais the main frame, which, by suitable bearings therein, is mounteduponand carried by the main axle 13 and road-wheels G O.

D is the main driving gear-wheel keyed to the axle B.

E and F are gear-wheels cast together in one piece and loosely mountedupon the swinging shaft 0.

G and H are gear-wheels cast together in one piece and loosely mountedupon the axle B.

I and J are gear-wheels cast together in one piece, and loosely mountedupon the swinging shaft 0. The shaft 0 is, at one end, pivoted at I tothe main frame, said shaft being at said end flattened, as shown inFigs. 1 and- 2. This shaft, at its outer end, is flattened, as shown atQ, to form a proper surface to slide upon the fiat inclined surface R ofthe main frame, and permit of the throwing of the train D E F G H I Jinto or out of gear by a movement of the swinging shaft 0 in a directiontoward or away from the axle B, and the consequent engagement ordisengagement of the teeth of the wheel E with or from the teeth of thewheel D.

The crank-shaft L is mounted and contained within a bearing, N, in themain franieA, and is, at its rear end, provided with a bevel-pinion, K,which meshes with and is driven by the Serial No. 202,406. (No model.)

gear-wheel J. This crankshaft is provided with a crank-pin, M, by which,through the intervention of a pitman, the knives or cutters arereciprocated. The crank-shaft L is 10- cated in a plane parallel withthe ground and with the cutters, and in the same horizontal" plane asthe swinging shaft 0, and in a hori' zontal plane lower than that of theaxle B.

S is a front brace hinged at one extremity to the main frame by a hingeparallel with the axis ofthe crank-shaft, and at the other extremityconnected with the finger-bar in the usual manner. To this front brace aback brace, T, is, at its forward extremity, rigidly attached. At itsrear extremity the brace T terminates in a cylinder, U, having conicalends V, which form a hinge-connection with the main frame by means of aconically-euded cylindrical seat formed between the metal of the mainframe and a cap, X, bolted to the main frame over said rear end of,thebrace T.

a is a cap, the under surface of which, when it is in place upon themain frame, forms the upper surface or wall of the way within which thefree end of the swinging shaft slides. This cap is secured to the mainframe by bolts passed through the holes (Land is provided with a pin, b,and one or more ratchets or stops, 0, which devices respectively serveto support and to lock the lever e, by which the free end of theswinging shaft 0 is operated.

The shifting lever e is provided with a hearing, f, by which it ismounted upon the pin I), as shown in Fig. 3. end, is forked, as at t'and h, the fork it being provided with a revoluble collar, 9, securedthereto by a pin, h. This collar is, on its in ner face, conformed tothe surface of the swing ing shaft 0, with which it is, when in placeupon the machine, in contact.

From the construction described, it will be understood that the swingingshaft 0 may be moved toward the axle B, and the gear-wheels on saidswinging shaft be caused to mesh or gear with the wheels upon said axleby throwing the lever e in a direction away from the axle B, and thatsaid lever may be fixed and locked in said position by adjusting thepawl k, by means of the latch in and link Z, behind This lever, at itslower the proper ratchet or catch 0 upon the cap a. The lever may beunlocked from the position described and be thrown in a direction towardthe axle B, with the result that the swinging shaft 0 will, by gravityor by the finger i, be caused to slide down the inclined plane R,whereby the wheel E will bethrown out of gear with the wheel D.

In the operation just described, the collar 9 upon the end of the levere revolves sufficiently to permit its concave face to at all times adaptitself to the various angles of the face of the swinging shaft 0, withwhich it is in contact.

Heretofore in harvesters, where the crankshaft has been located in ahorizontal plane as high as the main axle, and has been driven directlyby gearing on said axle, it has been found that theangle of theconnecting-rod or pitman connecting the crank-shaft and the cutters hasbeen so great as to materially increase the resistance to the operationof the cutters, and to occasion the requirement of a greaterpower todrive the machine, as well as a very considerable wearing of the partsof the machine upon which said resistance was exerted.

It was, moreover, found,when it was attempted to avoid thesedifficulties by dropping the forward end of the crankshaft, so that itoccupied a position nearer the ground than the driven end ofsaid shaft,that the crank-pin M, at various points of its revolution, occupiedvarious angles with the ground and with the cutting ap' aratus, and thatthe end of the con neoting-ro was thrown backward and forward, or in adirection at right angles toward and away from the main axle, at eachrevolution of the crank-pin. V H 7,

By my invention it'w-ill be seen the crankshaft is located in a planelower than the main axle and in a planeparallel with the-ground and withthe cutting apparatus, whereby the angle of the pitman or connecting-rodis decreased and the forward and backward throw of the pitman orconnecting-rod above described obviated and the pitman maintained at alltimes in linewith the cutting apparatus. Further, it will be understoodthat my form f hinge between the back brace and the main frame providesa coupling of great strength and insures reliable and easily-flexibleconnection between the cutting apparatus and the main frame, the axis ofsaid hinge being in a line and parallel with the axis of the hingedjoint between the forward brace and the main frame.

It will be apparent that averylimited backward movement of the swingingshaft 0 will be sufficient to disengage the gear-wheel E from thegear-wheel D, and that the disengagement of the other gear-wheels of thetrain to throw the machine in or out of gear will be unnecessary. Fromthis it follows that the machine can be thrown into gear with rapiditythe main frame and is driven by gearing W mounted upon a swinging shaftin its normal position parallel with the main driving-axle.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. In a mower, incombination, a main axle provided with gear-wheels, a swinging shaftpivoted at one end to the main frame or to an attachment thereof, and inits normal position parallel with the main axle and-located in ahorizontal plane below it, and a crankshaft mounted in bearings fixed tothe main frame, as specified.

2. In a mower, in combination, a main frame, a front brace at one endhinged to the main frame, a back brace at its forward end attached tosaid front brace and having its rear end terminated in a conically-endedcyl inder which is contained and hinged in aconically-ended cylindricalbearing in the main frame, the axis of said cylindrical bearing beingparallel to the axis of the crank-shaft, as specified.

. 3. In a mower, in combination, a main axle provided with gear-wheels,a swinging shaft pivoted at one end to the main frame,or to anattachment thereto, and provided with gearwheels, a crank-shaft providedwith a gearwheel, and mechanism for moving the free end of said swingingshaft toward or. away from the main axle and occasioning the throwingofthe crank-shaft into or out of gearwith the main axle, as specified.

t. In a mower, in combination, the axle B, the crankshaft L,intermediate gearing, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K, said gear-wheels E Fand I J being loosely mounted upon a swinging shaft, 0, pivoted at oneend to the main frame and located in a horizontal planelower than theaxle B, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day ofMay, A. D. 1886.

THOMAS S. BROWVN.

In presence of ROLAND R. DENNIs, EDWARD A. KING.

